Challenge Your Sense of Balance

Many people take up Yoga as a way to relax, reduce stress and bring a sense of inner calmness. For me, balancing poses are the most effective at reducing the stresses of life because they require all my attention and focus, that I am forced to forget about everything else. Staying in the pose and not falling requires all your effort and concentration. Once you release the pose, you feel an amazing wave of relief and contentment.

Here are some of my favorite balancing poses. Some of them solely challenge your sense of balance, and others also challenge your strength and flexibility. Just click on the name of the pose to learn how to get into them.

One thing that can help for balance poses like eagle is to stretch your feet beforehand with a theraband (maybe this is just me and my messed up, nerve damaged feet. I used to dance). But it definitely makes a difference for me and makes my old injuries happier. Just flex and pointe through the band for a couple minutes, really working the feet.

UrbanBohemian,
Lily314's suggestions are great. You might also want to try shifting your weight forward into your heart/chest while keeping your elbows and forearms aligned over your wrists. If your shifting your weight forward through your shoulders or upper back rather than your heart, you may be putting extra strain on your wrists.
Jeez, it's really hard to describe how to do that one!!! The balance sure is tricky.

UrbanBohemian,Lily314's suggestions are great. You might also want to try shifting your weight forward into your heart/chest while keeping your elbows and forearms aligned over your wrists. If your shifting your weight forward through your shoulders or upper back rather than your heart, you may be putting extra strain on your wrists.Jeez, it's really hard to describe how to do that one!!! The balance sure is tricky.

UrbanBohemian - try bracing your knees on your upper arms, as close to your armpits as possible, and squeeze. Also, spread out your fingers wide and press them hard into the floor so your weight is distributed throughout your hands, not just your palms, which strains your wrists.

Ugh. Balance is my demon. I can do many of the arm balancing poses, but try to balance on one leg and I turn into the world's biggest klutz. Eagle pose in particular is a DISASTER. I guess we all have our Waterloo...